Joseph Smith

John G. Turner is professor of religious studies and history at George Mason University. His books include Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ; Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet; The Mormon Jesus; and They Knew They Were Pilgrims. He lives in Burke, VA.

2026 Evans Biography Award winner, sponsored by Utah State University “This one is a ride. To the story of America’s most famous prophet John Turner brings a vigorous narrative style informed by the most recent scholarship. Even if you know Joseph Smith’s story well, this book is necessary reading.”—Matthew Bowman, Claremont Graduate University“Unlike many who have written about Smith, Turner comes neither to praise Smith nor to bury him. To the contrary, he wants to bring him back to life, for our reading pleasure and for our scholarly enlightenment. He has written a classic—spritely, fun, and ultimately persuasive.”—Mark Oppenheimer, editor of Arc: Religion, Politics, Et Cetera“John Turner has provided us a Joseph Smith for the current age. This biography successfully fleshes out the Mormon prophet’s life, mind, and environment, painting a picture that is both riveting and a reckoning.”—Benjamin E. Park, author of American Zion: A New History of Mormonism“Not every reader trusts Joseph Smith, a complex character who has been scorned and idolized in equal measure. But every reader should trust historian John Turner to shed fresh light on Smith’s fascinating contradictions, and to teach us something new about the world of early Mormonism. This long-awaited, well-observed biography of the religion’s controversial founder balances careful research with lively prose. Highly recommended.”—Jana Riess, author of The Next Mormons“In this energetic new biography, Joseph Smith jumps off the pages as an audacious, visionary, and often reckless character. Turner has expertly portrayed Smith as an endlessly complex figure who can no more be tamed in death than he could in life.”—Patrick Q. Mason, Utah State University